Thiên Mụ - sacred pagoda with ancient architecture in Hue

Nga Do
The pagodas in Thua Thien Hue Province have allowed us to interact with an open green space, and sacred atmosphere full of  inner beauty, quiet pleasure, and  deep satisfaction. Let’s take a look to five most visited Buddhist temples, and pagodas in Thua Thien Hue Province throughout the year.  

Thien Mu pagoda is located approximately 5km far from the center of Hue City to the west. This pagoda is the oldest one in Hue City, which is situated on Ha Khe Hill on the northern bank of Perfume River. It is a perfect visit for anyone who wants to seek for tranquility, find inner peace, and believe in the power of meditation and prayer, or just take a sightseeing tour of delightful natural scenery.

Photo by Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên
Being renowned as the most ancient Buddhist temple, the Thien Mu pagoda is outstandingly featured with its charming architectural beauty. Under the reign of Thieu Tri Emperor (the third emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty), this pagoda was described as one of the top twenty scenic landscapes in the poem Thien Mu Chung Thanh.

They also called the Pagoda as another name of Linh Mu due to a fairy story decades ago. Once upon a time, the kingdom under the rule of Nguyen Dynasty, the people around this area used to see a mysterious appearance of an old lady on the hill. She said to them that one day a great person would build a pagoda at this site to bring peace to the country. Lord Nguyen Hoang has visited this area and heard about the story. Then he ordered the construction of the pagoda. It was named as Thien Mu – Old Lady comes from the heaven.

In fact Linh Mu Pagoda was started to build in 1601then Lord Nguyen Phuc Tan had it renovated in 1665. In 1710, Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu ordered to make a huge bell (2.5 m high, weighed 3,285 kg). Also a stele (2.58 m high) erected on the back of a marble tortoise in 1715. In the Nguyen Dynasty, Kings such as Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Thanh Thai all had the pagoda restored.

Phuoc Duyen tower was constructed in 1884 by King Thieu Tri. This octagonal tower has seven storeys (21 m high).Also built up of Nhu Lai Buddha and The Ton. Dai Hung shrine, the main-hall, presents a magnificent architecture.

Not only bronze structures to see here, Thien Mu Pagoda Hue Viet Nam also shelters some precious antiques: bronze gong cast in 1677, and a wooden gilded board with Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu’s inscriptions (1714). On both sides of the pagoda are rooms for the bronzes and a guest-room for tourists.

In 1943, after being damaged by many factors, bonze Thich Don Hau hence raised a great renovation of the pagoda. This progress lasted for more than 30 years. It is now covered by flowers and ornamental plants. At the far end of the garden, a calm and romantic pine-tree forest is stretched.

The pagoda becomes more and more magnificent and attracts both domestic and international tourists joining tours in Vietnam. If you plan to visit Hue, you once reach Thien Mu pagoda Hue. Surely, you cannot leave beautiful Hue attractions natural and ancient beauty here.

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